Cuban children and artificial intelligence: perceptions, interests, and knowledge gaps
Keywords:
AI literacy; primary education; children’s perceptions; Cuba; digital policies.Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a cross-cutting driver of scientific, technological, and social development. The study of children's knowledge, perceptions, and expectations regarding AI constitutes an emerging research field in which projects are generating evidence and educational proposals, particularly in Latin America. In this context, AI literacy from an early age is gaining relevance in educational policies. This article presents the results of a survey conducted with 191 schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 in Cuban schools to identify what they know about AI, how they perceive it, what concerns they have, and what they wish to learn. Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, the study examines the need for educational strategies that promote a critical, ethical, and creative understanding of this technology. The findings reveal familiarity with everyday applications, limited understanding of the concept, and curiosity about how it works. This study is part of a broader AI literacy project.
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